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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-19-2020 P&R Commission Packet Agenda CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION TELECONFERENCE MEETING NOTICE Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:00 p.m. Welcome to the Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission. If this is your first time, the following is a general outline of our procedures: Please note that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this meeting is teleconference only, and will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Governor’s Executive Order N29-20 issued on March 17, 2020 allowing for deviation of teleconference rules required by the Brown Act and pursuant to the Order of the Health Officer of San Mateo County dated March 31, 2020. The public may view or comment during this meeting from a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/185577533 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/185577533 You can also dial in using your phone: United States (Toll Free): 1 877 568 4106 United States: +1 (312) 757-3129 Access Code: 185-577-533 The purpose of conducting the meeting as described in this notice is to provide the safest environment for staff and the public while allowing for public participation. Commissioners Aires, Battaglia, DeNardi, Firpo, and Lock, and Vice Chair Uy and Chair Camacho and essential City staff will participate via Teleconference. Members of the public may submit their comments on any agenda item or public comment via email or Parks & Recreation main line. PURSUANT TO RALPH M. BROWN ACT, GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953, ALL VOTES SHALL BE BY ROLL CALL DUE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS PARTICIPATING BY TELECONFERENCE. In accordance with California Government Code Section 54957.5, any writing or document that is a public record, relates to an open session agenda item, and is distributed less than 72 hours prior to a regular meeting will be made available for public inspection at the Parks and Recreation Department in the Municipal Services Building. If, however, the document or writing is not distributed until the regular meeting to which it relates, then the document or writing will be made available to the public at the location of the meeting, as listed on this agenda. Public Comment: Please note that dialing in will only allow you to listen in on the meeting. To make a public comment during the GoToMeeting session, join the meeting from your computer or mobile device, enter your name, and request to comment through the “Chat” function and a staff person will add you to the queue for comments and unmute your microphone during the comment period. In the alternative, you may also provide email comments received during the meeting will be read into the record. Please be sure to indicate the Agenda item number you wish to address or the topic of your public comment. California law prevents the Commission from taking action on any item not on the Agenda (except in emergency circumstances). Your question or problem may be referred to staff for investigation and/or action where appropriate or the matter may be placed on a future Agenda for more comprehensive action or report. COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES PER SPEAKER. Thank you for your cooperation. Remote Public Comments: Members of the public wishing to participate are encouraged to submit public comments in writing in advance of the meeting. The email and phone line below will be monitored during the meeting and public comments received will be read into the record. The City encourages the submission of comments by 6:00pm on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, to facilitate inclusion in the meeting record. A maximum of 3 minutes per individual comment will be read into the record. Comments that are not in compliance the Commission’s rules of decorum may be summarized for the record rather than read verbatim. Email: [email protected] Electronic Comments received by email will be monitored during the meeting and read into the record. We ask that you limit your electronic comments so that they comply with the 3 minute time limitation for public comment. Parks & Recreation Hotline: (650) 829-3837 Voice messages will be monitored during the meeting, and read into the record. Your voicemail should be limited so that it complies with the 3 minute time limitation for public comment. If you have special questions, please contact the Director of Parks and Recreation. The Director will be pleased to answer your questions when the Commission is not in session. KRISTY CAMACHO CHAIRPERSON ROBERT UY BETTY BATTAGLIA VICE CHAIR COMMISSIONER WILLIAM LOCK MICHAEL AIRES SECRETARY COMMISSIONER RUTH DeNARDI STEPHEN FIRPO COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER SHARON RANALS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/ DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION GREG MEDIATI DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION Agenda CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING Teleconference Meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2020 7:00 p.m. A G E N D A I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Pledge of Allegiance IV. Agenda Review V. Approval of Minutes of the February 18, 2020, Meeting VI. Citizen Participation (Citizen comment on items not agendized/informational only) VII. Beautification Committee VIII. Old Business A. Civic Campus Playground Update IX. New Business A. COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update B. Fiscal Implications Related to COVID-19 X. Friends of Parks and Recreation XI. Items from Commission XII. Items from Staff A. Calendar of Events B. Administrative Update XIII. Adjournment Next Meeting: Regular Meeting: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES FROM TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020 I. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m. A regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of South San Francisco was held on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at the Municipal Services Building, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco, California. II. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Battaglia, Camacho, DeNardi, Firpo, Lock, and Uy Absent: All Present Staff: Sharon Ranals, ACM/Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Mediati, Deputy Director Angela Duldulao, Recreation Manager Laura Armanino, Childcare Supervisor Kimberly Morrison, Childcare Assistant Supervisor Kari Jung, Administrative Assistant III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Complete IV. AGENDA REVIEW: No changes. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 21, 2020, MEETING: No changes and approved by motion as written. Motion: Commissioner Battaglia / Seconded: Commissioner DeNardi. VI. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: None VII. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE Deputy Director Mediati reported that a February Beautification Committee Meeting was not held. VIII. OLD BUSINESS: A. Urban Forest Master Plan Update Deputy Director Mediati shared the updated UFMP included with the packets was informational only, has had a few minor formatting changes completed, has incorporated many of the Commissioner’s previous comments, and was now ready to be presented to City Council for adoption. • Goals have been prioritized in a matrix on page 62, ranked high, medium, and low. • A tree species list is included at the very end of the report. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of February 18, 2020 Page 2 Commissioner Firpo inquired if the Catalina Cherry produced any fruit and Deputy Mediati explained that the fruit produced is not very tasty, containing a large pit and not very meaty. Commissioner Lock inquired if the report addressed aging equipment and staffing levels. Deputy Mediati shared that the report makes recommendations for best practices; however staffing levels and equipment replacement falls to Department to address as part of future budget requests. Commissioner Lock further inquired if it would be better to state those items overtly in the report. ACM Ranals explained that setting priorities was a better approach to more flexibly reach goals. Deputy Mediati shared that it isn’t within the consultant’s area of expertise to dictate staffing levels and make business recommendations; however they gave recommendations of pruning cycles and service levels for staff to determine staffing levels needed to achieve goals. Commissioner DeNardi shared that she attended the Sign Hill Stewards event the previous Wednesday and noticed a lot of dead trees as well as small pine trees coming up and was wondering if the volunteers can assist with the removal of these small pine trees. Deputy Mediati acknowledged that there will be some tree removal near the water tanks where a lot of the dead trees are, as well as Josh and Emma will be working to remove some of the eucalyptus. Sign Hill not naturally forested – reference document is a forestry study of Sign Hill with best practices for fire breaks. DeNardi reported a tree covering the “S”. Commissioner Battaglia shared that the trees on Sign Hill were planted in good faith; however, times have changed. She inquired if the City gets a lot of comments about removal. When eucalyptus trees were removed from Brentwood Park there were a lot of complaints. ACM Ranals stated that the removal of trees is controversial; although the lifespan of eucalyptus is 250 years and there is environmental benefit. Commissioner Camacho thanked staff for updating the goals which makes the plan more useful, further inquiring if timeframes can be added or check-ins on action items, for instance if Design Review Board incorporating Parks in the review process. Minor edit: Page 15 – remove quotation marks on Mission Statement, only use quotation marks for actual quotes. Commissioner Uy thanked staff for the well done report. He shared his interpretation of an overwhelming theme of not removing trees and wanted further explanation about non-native trees: eucalyptus which have shorter lifespan, prone to fall damage, and much more flammable. Deputy Mediati shared that there was a prioritization for removal to allow for fire breaks, and that trees were reviewed individually rather than by species. The Department has a tomograph and does borings to test for resistance and quantify the overall health of each tree. ACM Ranals further explained that the City’s tree removal ordinance was written so that it is easier to remove some species of trees, like the eucalyptus. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of February 18, 2020 Page 3 Commissioner Uy shared that Monte Verde (part in San Bruno) trees have fallen, are a danger in high wind events, and he has concerns that same species close to playground at Orange Park. Deputy Mediati shared that in considering the risk assessment of trees, the value of any target (people are highest value) is taken into consideration. ACM Ranals shared that 4 or 5 have been removed in correlation with the Stormwater Capture project and additional are under consideration. Deputy Mediati shared that climate change is causing more severe wind storm events causing more trees to topple. Commissioner Firpo shared his concerns regarding the pine trees on Sign Hill due to lack of water and beetles and that the fire break is a great idea. IX. New Business: A. Preschool Study Session and Waiting List Survey Laura Armanino, Childcare Supervisor shared a presentation with the commission that had been shared with City Council at their recent retreat. Supervisor Armanino requested feedback from the Commission on the survey questions for future use to ensure that we are asking the right questions and therefore getting the answers needed. Commissioner Uy inquired about demographics. Supervisor Armanino shared that demographic questions are included as optional to answer. Supervisor Armanino shared that the Big Lift program is struggling to fill spaces due to the low income requirements and that medium income / affordable spaces are more difficult to find. Commissioner Lock expressed that with the substantial waiting list and limited facilities the Orange Library site is appealing for a future childcare facility and wondered what synergies would be lost if not located next to an elementary school. Supervisor Armanino shared that many of our preschools are not adjacent to elementary schools and that library location is within the heat map. Commissioner Lock requested to add a question if not walking to school, how are they getting to school, and what are the transportation expectations. How long would it take to get the library conversion complete, 10 years? ACM Ranals shared that LPR was scheduled to be complete at the end of 2022, and if approved another 18 months for construction, so it could be running within 5 years. A study City Council session will be planned to discuss potential future plans. Commissioner Firpo inquired what current weekly rates are. Supervisor Armanino shared that full time preschool is currently $652 for residents and $729 for non-residents. Commissioner Uy estimated that childcare ranges from $2,400-$3,000 per month per child. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of February 18, 2020 Page 4 ACM Ranals shared that there is currently $11 million in the Childcare Impact Fund with the expectation to spend sooner rather than later so that developers don’t come back requesting the return of fees. The questions to consider: • What can be done in the interim? • Are there any City owned buildings or sites that can be utilized with modular units? • How do we balance services offered? Commissioner Camacho inquired if the costs are available for the Orange Library site. Supervisor Armanino shared that the estimate is $7.7 million for 80 children (4 classes of 20 each with large multi-purpose room) within the existing floor plan. The basement is ruled out for childcare, but could be used for city-wide storage needs. ACM Ranals shared that there are two other estimates as well: • Tear down and rebuild is estimated at $37 million for 200 kids • Tear down and utilization of modular buildings at $15 million for 150 kids Commissioner Camacho suggested the following updates to the survey: • Include care in home by self as an option • Question 2 – get rid of 1st sentence, ask Are the City’s preschool programs your 1st choice and why • Question 3 – want to know more than just quality: long term teachers, socialization, kindergarten readiness • Question 4 – consider ranking choices, and then move above question 2 • Change cost to either annual or weekly, not percent of income; request family income as an optional response • Question 6 is leading – How strongly do you agree with the following statement with a Likert scale response • The map may be difficult to read if you are not involved in the City. Separate out by district • Question 8 – use same map, callout neighborhoods X. Friends of Parks and Recreation: Commissioner Battaglia shared that the committee elected officers and discussed programs to support in the upcoming year: Easter Egg Hunt and City Hall Celebration. Manager Duldulao shared that the Friends of Parks and Recreation recently made a donation in the over $6,000 including: • $1,800 Traditional camp scholarships • $1,500 Full of Fun camp scholarships • $ 500 July is Parks and Rec Month free classes • $2,500 for Senior Programs and Adult Day Care Scholarships • $ 500 for Aquatics Summer Safety Swim programming Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of February 18, 2020 Page 5 XI. Items from Commission: Commissioner DeNardi shared that she attended the Special City Council Meeting reviewing the designs from the urban art program, an affordable housing meeting, and the Sign Hill Stewards event pulling Italian thistle. She mentioned that she noticed young adults walking along Grand Ave, wearing vests, picking up litter as well as over by Orange Park picking up litter. It’s wonderful to see people in our community volunteering to improve the City. Commissioner Lock was pleased to share that CAPRCBM will honor Richard Holt with the President’s award in March. There won’t be a dinner, just the ceremony on Thursday evening. He further inquired if the City had a volunteer recognition. ACM Ranals said that some volunteers are acknowledged at Council meetings and others are at the Senior Volunteer Luncheon. Commissioner Camacho suggested acknowledging volunteers in the activity guide. Commissioner Lock encouraged that staff and commissioners can take photos on their cell phones and submit. Commissioner Uy attended the Chamber Mixer at the Library which was well attended. The Civic Campus presentation was well received. Commissioner Firpo thanked staff for the acknowledgement and nomination for Richard Holt and found the UFMP very comprehensive. Commissioner Battaglia enjoyed reviewing the history of trees in parks, noting that the palm trees are were planted in honor of the veterans. She attended the Chamber Mixer, Valentines for Troops with the Seniors, Chinese New Year Dance, PAL boosters dinner, CAC Art Show, Rotary, and looks forward to CPRS District IV dinner. Commissioner Camacho shared that she is unable to attend the CPRS District 4 awards dinner due to a previous commitment, but extended her congratulations to the nominees. She will attend the CPRS conference in Long Beach. XII. Items from Staff: A. Calendar of Events. ACM Ranals shared that the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Police Station and 911 Dispatch Building is scheduled for Friday, 2/28 at 10:00 a.m. Invitation are forthcoming. Please park at the MSB and walk over. B. Administrative Updates ACM Ranals shared that a new commissioner has been appointed, but she is holding off on making the announcement until all notifications have been made. XIII. Adjournment: 8:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kari Jung, Administrative Assistant II Staff Report DATE: May 19, 2020 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Director of Capital Projects SUBJECT: Civic Campus Playground Alternatives RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission receive a report on the design of the playground at the Civic Campus. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION As a central component of the Community Civic Campus project, the 1.3 acre park includes plans for a future playground. The playground is not currently not funded within the overall project budget. In December 2019, staff presented to the Commission designs based on two different themes for the playground: Technology /Innovation and Nature/Adventure. Since that time, staff and the landscape architecture team from SmithGroup have gathered feedback and revised the design to incorporate elements from both themes. The presentation includes a detailed explanation of the revised plan. By: _______________________________ Jacob Gilchrist Director of Capital Projects Attachments: 1. Draft Presentation PARKS AND REC COMMISSION MEETING –MAY 19,2020 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO MAIN CAMPUS | PROJECT UPDATE EXTERIOR DESIGN PLAYGROUND UPDATE PLAYGROUND DESIGN | OVERALL PARK DESIGN DECEMBER 2019 PLAYGROUND CONCEPTS CONCEPT 1 –TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATION CONCEPT 2 –NATURE / ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND SURVEY –WHAT WE HEARD Overall Preference = NATURE! Nature / Adventure Technology / Innovation 67% 33% 401 RESPONSES JANUARY- APRIL TYPES OF PLAY 1.MOVEMENT 2.INCLUSIVE 3.ADVENTURE 4.EDUCATIONAL PLAY EQUIPMENT 1.CLIMBING 2.SLIDES 3.SWINGS 4.BALANCING ELEMENTS GENERAL FEEDBACK [162 WRITE-IN COMMENTS] •NO SAND •NEED PLENTY OF SEATING FOR ADULTS AND GOOD VISIBILITY •NEED SHADE/RAIN COVERING •NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND SECURE •ENCLOSED AREA FOR2-5 YEAROLDS •NEED SWINGS FOR 2-5 AND 5-12 YEAR OLDS •NEEDS TO BE INCLUSIVE •INTEGRATION OF NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS PLAYGROUND DESIGN PLAYGROUND DESIGN BIRD’S EYE VIEW PLAYGROUND DESIGN 6 MONTHS -5 YEARS OLD AREA PLAYGROUND DESIGN 6 –23 MONTHS OLD PLAY STRUCTURE PLAYGROUND DESIGN 6 MONTHS -5 YEARS OLD AREA PLAYGROUND DESIGN PLAY EQUIPMENT SAFETY ZONES PLAYGROUND DESIGN 5-12 YEARS OLD AREA PLAYGROUND DESIGN PLAYGROUND DESIGN PERIMETER FENCE AND SEATING DESIGN PLAYGROUND DESIGN VIEW FROM TURF AREA AND SHADE STRUCTURE DESIGN PLAYGROUND DESIGN VIEW FROM 3RD FLOOR LOBBY Staff Report DATE: May 19, 2020 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission receive an update on the current status of modified operations under the San Mateo County Health Officer COVID-19 Shelter in Place Order, and review the attached plan to gradually restore Parks and Recreation operations and programs as restrictions are eased by the County Health Officer. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION A novel coronavirus, named “COVID-19” by the World Health Organization (WHO), was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. The virus has since spread rapidly throughout the world. The WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, when there were 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,000 deaths in over 110 countries. As of May 14, there have been 4.5 million confirmed cases, with over 300,000 deaths across 213 countries. Meanwhile, in San Mateo County, there are 1,536 confirmed cases, with 65 deaths. Because of limited testing capacity, the number of cases detected through testing represents only a small portion of the total number of likely cases. In early March of 2020, national, state, county, and local governments declared health emergencies for COVID-19 to confer special authority and leverage resources to address the crisis, as follows: United States, March 13; California, March 4; San Mateo County, March 10; and City of South San Francisco, March 11. In an effort to slow the spread of the virus and mitigate the impact on delivery of critical healthcare services, California issued an Executive Order that went into effect on March 19, directing all individuals living in the State of California to stay at their place of residence, except as needed to Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 19, 2020 Subject: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Page: 2 maintain continuity of operations in the “federal critical infrastructure sectors.” San Mateo County Health Officer Orders In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, San Mateo County issued a series of Health Officer Orders for public health and safety. Prior to issuing a Shelter in Place (SIP) Order, initially effective from March 16 to April 7, orders were issued to ban visitors from skilled nursing facilities, to ban mass gatherings, and to modify school operations. Subsequent to the SIP Order announcement, additional orders were issued, which included modifications related to the reporting of test results, extension of the SIP through May 3, home quarantine and home isolation instructions, further revisions to school operations, expansion of screening and monitoring for residential care facilities; face coverings requirement for members of the public and workers, large construction project safety protocol, small construction project safety protocol, specific social distancing protocols for businesses allowed to operate under the SIP Order, and most recently, an order issued on April 29 which slightly relaxes the SIP Order of March 31, and extends it to May 31. This revised order was issued in light of progress achieved in slowing the spread of the virus in San Mateo County and neighboring counties. The revised order states that activities will be assessed on an ongoing basis and may need to be modified if the risk associated with the virus increases in the future. An additional revised order is slated to be announced on May 18. Staff will verbally report on this, as it has not been published at the time of drafting this report. Recreation Division Operations Existing Modified Recreation Programs In response to San Mateo County’s guidance to cancel or postpone in-person gatherings to limit the spread of COVID-19 within the County, the City has postponed, cancelled or modified recreation programs and events and has temporarily closed facilities. While these programs may be cancelled, the City generously pledged to pay hourly staff based on their average hours worked through the end of the fiscal year – June 30, 2020. Below is a brief summary of program modifications and cancellations. Special Events • All special events during the current shelter in place order have been cancelled or postponed. Some examples include: - Easter Egg Hunt, April 4 - Cultural Arts Commission Youth Art Show, April 3-4 Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 19, 2020 Subject: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Page: 3 - Youth Karate Tournament, April 26 - Preschool Graduation, May 15 - Senior Pancake Breakfast, May 17 Aquatics • Orange Pool was closed and the following Aquatics programs are cancelled until further notice, effective March 12: - Spring classes and drop-in aquatics programs - SSF Aquatics Club practices • Summer session programs are currently postponed Childcare • The following Childcare programs are cancelled or postponed until further notice, effective March 12: - Youth Police Academy - Fire Firefighter Camp - Full of Fun Nights - Spring Camp • The following Childcare programs are cancelled or postponed until further notice, effective March 16: - Preschool programs at Little Steps Preschool, Siebecker Center, and Westborough Recreation Building - Before and After School Recreation Programs at Buri Buri, Monte Verde, Ponderosa, and Spruce Elementary Schools were closed in parallel with the SSFUSD school closures - R.E.A.L. After School Programs at Martin and Los Cerritos Elementary Schools were closed in parallel with the SSFUSD school closures • Summer Camp enrollment has still been collected. Staff is considering a modified summer camp program to begin in June, which will be described in more detail, below. • Before and After School Recreation Program registration was accepted via an online lottery process between April 13-24. Classes • All spring drop-in programs and classes were cancelled effective March 12 • Summer session classes are currently postponed Rentals • All private rentals of City facilities, picnic areas, and sports fields were cancelled until further notice, effective March 12 Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 19, 2020 Subject: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Page: 4 Senior Services • The Magnolia Center and the following Senior Services programs are cancelled or postponed until further notice, effective March 12. - Adult day care - All drop-in senior programs at the Magnolia Center and the Municipal Services Building - Senior luncheons and events - AARP’s tax program Sports • The Terrabay Gymnasium and the following Sports programs are cancelled until further notice, effective March 12. - Adult sports programs - Middle school sports - RAPP basketball - Open gym - Fitness room activities • Junior Giants was modified to include an online spring program from May 11 - June 6, and two summer sessions from June 8 - July 4 and July 6 - August 1 • Co-sponsored sports leagues have been postponed until further notice Planned Modified Childcare Programs During the Shelter In Place Staff is in the process planning childcare services for essential workers, potentially beginning Monday, June 15. The scope of services to be proposed for City Council consideration includes serving: • 60 children using existing facilities at Westborough Preschool, Siebecker Preschool, and Little Steps Preschool. • 120 children in existing summer camp facilities at the Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building, Terrabay Gymnasium, and Ponderosa Elementary School. The cost of these programs will be covered by the Department’s existing operating budget. If necessary, the South San Francisco Unified School District will allow the use of the City’s before and after school program facilities at Monte Verde and Buri Buri Elementary Schools. Survey Data On May 6, staff issued a survey to currently enrolled participants in the City’s preschool and summer camp programs, as well as waitlisted participants in summer camp, to assess the need and interest for participants to return to the program. As of May 14, the results are as follows: Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 19, 2020 Subject: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Page: 5 Preschool – Enrolled 71 respondents Plan to attend AND meet “essential worker” status identified in April 29, 2020 SMC public health order 48% Plan to attend, but DOES NOT meet “essential worker” status identified in April 29, 2020 SMC public health order 23% Do not plan to attend or not sure 29% Summer Camp & Teen Camp – Enrolled 230 respondents Plan to attend AND meet “essential worker” status identified in April 29, 2020 SMC public health order 53% Plan to attend, but DOES NOT meet “essential worker” status identified in April 29, 2020 SMC public health order 18% Do not plan to attend or not sure 29% Summer Camp & Teen Camp – Waitlisted 70 respondents Plan to attend AND meet “essential worker” status identified in April 29, 2020 SMC public health order 53% Plan to attend, but DOES NOT meet “essential worker” status identified in April 29, 2020 SMC public health order 21% Do not plan to attend or not sure 26% Responses from City employees who are already enrolled in the Childcare Program is included above. The City’s Human Resources Department will be sending out a separate survey to City employees who are not currently enrolled in the program to gauge employees’ need for childcare services if required to return to work as well. Guidelines for Childcare During Shelter In Place The following framework for safely operating childcare programs in South San Francisco has been crafted by staff based on several public health resources and input from agencies who are providing childcare services for essential workers. These guidelines are subject to change based on regulations and guidance from Community Care Licensing and the San Mateo County Public Health Department. Childcare facilities will operate and comply with the following conditions to the extent possible: • Children must be cared for in stable groups of 12 or fewer. • Groups of children may not mix with each other. If more than one group is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room. • Staff may not circulate between groups. They need to remain with the same stable group of 12 children. • Common areas may be shared by multiple groups however, their use of these areas should be staggered as much as possible so as to minimize contact with each other. Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 19, 2020 Subject: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Page: 6 • Upon arriving at the facility, staff will greet parents and children outside of the classroom to limit non-essential individuals from entering the classroom. Daily temperatures and symptom questionnaires are to be performed prior to entry. • Toys from home are not allowed. • Toys/equipment with hard cleanable surfaces will be provided when possible. • Staff will check their temperature daily and monitor for cough or shortness of breath, via a symptom check questionnaire. They are mandated to stay home if they are or have been ill. • All children who display symptoms will be sent home. While awaiting pick up, they will be separated from other children. The same procedure will be followed for staff. • Staff will perform enhanced cleaning by routinely disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (e.g. doorknobs, light switches, countertops, faucets). Sites will be cleaned each evening. In addition to the framework identified above, staff has developed policies for identifying and isolating sick children, and scenarios if a child or employee tests positive for COVID-19. Virtual Recreation Programs During these challenging times, the Department is still committed to providing fun, educational, and recreational resources for community members of all ages. In an effort to continue to meet this need, staff has created an online recreation and classroom environment, titled the Virtual Recreation and Resource Center, available at www.ssf.net/virtualrec. In addition to sourcing 160 online educational and recreation resources for residents, the Department is creating and sharing pre-recorded instructional videos, and is hosting virtual recreation classes via GoToMeeting video conferencing software. These classes include knitting, crocheting, hula dancing, belly dancing, ballet, tabata bootcamp, and pilates free of charge to the community. Additional classes are planned. At the same time, Childcare staff are still serving Preschool, R.E.A.L. and Before and Afterschool Program participants remotely. Over 600 children have been provided academic and distance learning support via the Seesaw software program. Staff has also distributed 200 distance learning packets for students enrolled in Title 1 schools through its ASES-funded R.E.A.L. program. These learning packets provide STEM, English language and other fun learning activities to reduce summer learning loss. Remote Programs for Seniors and In-Need Individuals Senior Services staff have established a fresh grocery delivery program for homebound seniors, funded by private donations. Additionally, Senior Services staff, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, serves up to 500 South San Francisco senior citizens each week with delivered groceries, intended to last 1-2 weeks per delivery. While unable to offer on-site Adult Day Care and Senior Center programs due to the Shelter in Place order, Parks and Recreation staff created a senior newsletter, which was distributed in print to over Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 19, 2020 Subject: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Page: 7 250 seniors and posted online. Staff is also calling up to 200 seniors per week for welfare checks, socialization, and information and referral, and is producing activity kits for Adult Day Care clients. Masks for Seniors and Essential Workers Over 400 high-quality reusable cloth masks have been crafted by Sewing Instructor Judy Barreto and Childcare Supervisor Laura Armanino. These masks have been distributed to essential workers, including Parks and Facility Maintenance Workers, Public Works staff, and senior residents. This has been invaluable, particularly as masks have been difficult to source as staff begins to resume essential maintenance and public safety activities. Emergency Operations Center Several Parks and Recreation staff have been partially reassigned to serve in the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Staff assignments include section leaders and support staff for the care and shelter, and logistics/documentation units. These roles are essential for disaster relief reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Parks and Facilities Divisions In response to the ongoing public health crisis, all playgrounds, picnic facilities, park restrooms, sports courts, the dog park, skate park, and bocce courts have been closed to the public to discourage gatherings where individuals do not maintain appropriate social distancing. Signage has been posted at each location. Additionally, staff is locking or caution-taping off these amenities whenever possible. All drinking fountains have been turned off. Staff continues to monitor park usage, and may consider expanding closures as necessary. The Parks and Facilities Divisions reduced staffing by 50% during the week of March 16. Upon reassessment, the Division has decided to further reduce staffing to 25% staff on hand at any time to maintain minimum safety standards during the week of March 23, which greatly reduced the Department’s capacity to respond to regular maintenance needs, and increased the level of deferred maintenance. The Parks and Facilities Maintenance Divisions were restored to full staffing on May 13 in order to prepare facilities for re-entry, weed abatement efforts, and to address the growing maintenance backlog. Staff is implementing several new operational practices that encourage physical distancing, hygiene and sanitization of workspaces and equipment, including daily symptom screening, provisions for personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, modified shifts, and physical distancing in common areas, work areas and vehicles. Thousands of residents are safely accommodated each day by the Parks and Recreation Department in City parks and public spaces due to the enhanced cleaning and maintenance performed by the Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 19, 2020 Subject: COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Page: 8 Parks and Recreation Department. Restoration of Operations Plan Staff devised a Restoration of Operations Plan (ROOP) to serve as a guiding document for restoring services and staffing that are affected by the COVID-19 Shelter-in Place Order. Restoration of services is to be implemented in phases that will accommodate a gradual transition back to full operation. The phases and plan identified in this plan are in part guided by the Federal guidelines for “Opening Up America.” A copy of this plan is attached to this staff report for the Commission’s information. Staff may deviate from this guidance based on recommendations from the San Mateo County Health Officer, or other experts. Staff is continuing to evaluate program modifications to safely restore programs based on County guidance and the ROOP, such as hosting additional classes outdoors, reducing shared equipment, and practicing in smaller groups to promote physical distancing. By: Greg Mediati Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation 1 PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RESTORATION OF OPERATIONS PLAN April 24, 2020 The Parks and Recreation Department’s Restoration of Operations Plan (ROOP) establishes guidelines for restoring services and staffing that were affected by the COVID-19 Shelter-in Place Public Order. Restoration of services can be implemented in phases that will accommodate a gradual transition back to full operation. The phases and plan identified below are in part guided by the Federal guidelines for “Opening Up America.” RECREATION DIVISION The Recreation Division consists of seven program areas, including Aquatics, Classes, Cultural Arts, Childcare, Senior Services, Sports and Rentals. Other programs managed by the Recreation Division include departmental Special Events and Administration. Recreation staff are also tasked with operating recreation centers, picnic sites and rental facilities, preschools and select SSFUSD after school sites that serve residents of all age groups. These programs generally involve a great deal of public interaction, which must be limited during COVID-19 modified operations. Full Restrictions Under full restrictions, recreation facilities and programs are closed to the public and front counter operations take place only by phone or e-mail. The only program that would be open to the public is if the City decided to provide childcare services to essential workers, as defined by San Mateo County. Recreation administrative staff (Manager, Supervisors, Coordinators, Administrative Assistants, and Cultural Arts Specialist) would be expected to work from home and would only be allowed to work from the office on an as-needed basis with supervisor approval. Personnel: Recreation administrative staff would be expected to work from home and would only be allowed to work from the office on an as-needed basis with supervisor approval. Part- time employees may be engaged in work that can be completed from home as assigned by their supervisor. 2 Staff may be reassigned to other program areas as needed, including the Emergency Operations Center or other critical services, such as food distribution. Programs: In-person recreation activities are closed under full restrictions. Instead, staff will work on developing and offering virtual recreation programs, as well as program planning for future modification of programs as public health guidelines are relaxed over time. The only program that could be open to the public is if the City decided to provide childcare services to essential workers. Even in this instance, childcare services would be modified to protect participants and employees, consistent with guidance from San Mateo County Health, and the State of California’s Community Care Licensing Division. Facility: All community centers and childcare sites would be open to employees on a limited basis, but will remain closed to the public. Moderate Restrictions Under moderate restrictions, recreation programs would continue to remain closed to the public and front counter operations would continue to take place only by phone or e- mail. The primary difference between full and moderate restrictions is that Recreation administrative staff would have the option to work out of their offices or continue to telecommute. Likewise, part-time employees may be engaged in in-office work assigned by their supervisor. Personnel: Recreation administrative staff would have the option to return to the office. Continued telecommuting would be encouraged. The in-office visits may be scheduled with modified, limited contact, processes depending on the number of staff who wish to be in the office in the same building at the same time. Supervisors will have the option to engage part-time employees in work activities as needed, keeping in mind any regulations set forth by the County’s public health orders, and guidance by the Human Resources and City Manager Departments. Work activities could include office organization and clean up, day to day administration, and program planning. Staff may be reassigned to other program areas as needed, including the Emergency Operations Center or other critical services, such as food distribution. Programs: In-person recreation activities will largely remain closed under moderate restrictions. Staff will continue working on virtual recreation programs and connecting community members to needed resources. 3 The only program that could be open to the public is if the City decided to provide childcare services to essential workers and/or City employees as described above. Facility: All community centers and childcare sites would be open to employees, but will remain closed to the public. Light Restrictions Under light restrictions, front counters at the Municipal Services Building and the Joseph A. Fernekes Building would be open to the public. Modified in-person business hours may be implemented. In-person recreation programs would be offered on a limited basis and would favor activities that would align with the requirements outlined in the public health orders. Most recreation staff would continue to have the option to work a combination of in-office and telecommute hours, considering the supervisory needs of the in-person programs being offered. Personnel: Most recreation administrative staff would continue to have the option to work a combination of in-office and telecommute hours, considering the supervisory needs of the in-person programs being offered. Part-time staff would also be engaged in enhanced cleaning efforts to maintain clean facilities between program offerings. Beyond staffing in-person program offerings, supervisors may continue engaging part- time employees in other work activities as needed, keeping in mind any regulations set forth by the County’s public health orders and other guidance from the City. Work activities could include office organization and clean up, day to day administration, and program planning. Programs: In-person recreation programs would be offered on a limited basis and would favor activities that would align with the requirements outlined in the public health orders. While the specific orders are unknown at this time, such activities could include fitness classes that take place outdoors or indoor, small group classes that can accommodate social distancing. In addition, participation in recreation activities would be limited to small groups with ample physical distancing, and participants and instructors would be required to take any precautions outlined in the public health orders. Facility: All community centers and childcare sites would be open to employees. When determining in-person recreation activities, staff will be mindful about making the most efficient use of facilities in determining which ones will be open to the public. 4 Unrestricted In the unrestricted phase, Recreation Division activities will return to normal and will likely include modifications made during the restricted phases that will likely be adopted as new standards of practice. Practices expected to carry over include enhanced cleaning efforts between program offerings and increased use of electronic forms that can be processed via e-mail or online. Personnel: Recreation administrative staff will return to working in the office. Telecommuting could still take place on a limited basis with supervisor approval, if permitted by City policies. Part-time staff will return to supporting in-person programs and supporting work as assigned by their supervisor. Programs: Recreation programs would be expanded to include larger groups and social distancing in programs would no longer be mandatory. Facility: All community centers and childcare sites would be open to employees and the public. 5 PARKS DIVISION The Parks and Recreation Department manages 300 acres of parks and open space areas, including all public trees and the Common Greens for the benefit of its residents. Full Restrictions Under full restrictions, Park facilities such as restrooms, playgrounds, the dog park, picnic sites, and any other areas that encourage gathering are closed to the public. Only passive recreation areas such as walking paths and open space areas remain open. Front counter operations take place only by phone or e-mail as much as possible. Parks administrative staff (Manager, Supervisors, and Administrative Assistants) would be expected to work from home and would only be allowed to work from the office on an as-needed basis with supervisor approval in order to continue to meet resident needs for functions that can only be performed from the Maintenance Services Building. Personnel: Parks administrative staff are expected to work from home and would only be allowed to work from the office on an as-needed basis with supervisor approval or to serve in a staffing coverage capacity so as not to interrupt operations for the public. Part-time employees may be engaged in work that can be completed from home as assigned by their supervisor or are scheduled alternatively to full-time staff so as to reduce number of staff at the Maintenance Services Building. Full-time staffing is reduced to 20% of normal operations having four to five employees on staff at any given day. Their focus would be maintaining safe paths of travel in the parks, hazard abatement, emergency response, and sanitation of commonly used assets such as trash cans and hand rails. As time allows, duties like mowing and weed abatement may occur. All remaining staff are placed on standby to be called in if needed. Tree crew members are additionally are standby and will be called periodically as needed for emergency tree work. All vehicles are not to be shared and each vehicle is to be disinfected after each use. All staff will be provided protective masks and required to wear them while at work. Staff may be reassigned to other areas as needed, including the Emergency Operations Center or other critical services, such as food distribution. Committees: Improving Public Places Committee and Beautification Committee meetings are cancelled as well as any events scheduled within the full restriction period. 6 Facilities: Park facilities such as restrooms, playgrounds, dog parks, picnic sites, and any other areas of congregation are closed to the public. Only passive recreation areas such as walking paths and open space areas remain open. Sports courts are closed. Drinking fountains are shut off as well. Internally, the Maintenance Services Building lunchroom, conference room, and other gathering areas will be closed. Moderate Restrictions Under moderate restrictions, larger more frequently used parks may begin to have facilities such as bathrooms reopened with an increased cleaning frequency throughout the day, if permitted by County health orders. The dog park may reopen with signage enforcing social distancing. Front counter operations would continue to take place only by phone or e-mail if possible and if any human interaction was necessary, proper distancing will be enforced and physical barriers will be erected at counters. More park staff will be scheduled each week and Supervisors will have the option to return to their offices, but will be encouraged to work from home for at least two days a week. Personnel: Parks administrative staff would have the option to return to the office, but may be encouraged to telecommute two days a week or more. Maintenance staffing will increase to 50%-60% of normal staffing. Staff will focus on increased bathroom cleaning frequencies, as well as returning to regular maintenance such as mowing and weed abatement, and will start to attend to deferred repairs on major infrastructure such as irrigation mainlines, valves, and hardscapes. Major renovation work will be paused until restrictions are eased. Part-time workers will resume their normal shifts and full-time staff will return to weekend schedule. Protective face masks will be provided for all staff. Staff may be reassigned to other program areas as needed, including the Emergency Operations Center or other critical services, such as food distribution. Committees: Improving Public Places Committee and Beautification Committee meetings will remain cancelled. Any planned events will be cancelled until restrictions are lifted. Facility: Playgrounds will remain closed and restrooms will be opened and cleaned on a more frequent schedule throughout the day. Picnic sites will remain closed as well as sports courts with exception of tennis courts as this can be played at safe distances. Sites will be opened based on recreational program needs and all facilities that are opened will be sanitized using a chlorine bleach disinfecting unit. The Maintenance Services Building lunchroom and conference room will only be used with proper social distancing and sanitization efforts. 7 Light Restrictions Under light restrictions, all park facilities will reopen. Sites will be opened in a prioritized manner based on recreational program needs, and all facilities/assets that are opened will be sanitized using a chlorine bleach disinfecting unit prior to opening. Restrooms and playgrounds will be cleaned and disinfected regularly. All maintenance staff will return to work, in normal capacities and start performing deferred maintenance work. Personnel: Staffing will return to 100% under lighter restrictions, but will not share vehicles and will be encouraged to continue social distancing. Parks administrative employees will be working at offices, but the option of occasional telecommuting with supervisor approval. Tree work will resume full operations. Front office operations will still practice social distancing and use protective barriers at areas of public interactions. Masks will be provided and may be required if recommended by the County’s health officer. Committees: Improving Public Places Committee and Beautification Committee meetings will remain cancelled, but planned events will be able to be held with proper protocols. Facility: All facilities will be open to the public with increased cleaning frequencies. All playgrounds, restrooms, and park assets will be sanitized with chlorine bleach disinfecting unit and will be prioritized based on programming. Unrestricted During the unrestricted period, all operations will return to normal and work cycles will resume with an extra effort to catch up on deferred maintenance such as weed abatement in right-of-way areas. Cleansing and proper hygienic protocols will be implemented to keep staff safe. Processes that can be done via computer or online will remain virtual. Personnel: All staff return to normal operations with sanitation of work areas as a focus for all employees. Masks may be issued to employees for optional use. Committees: Improving Public Places Committee and Beautification Committee resume normal meetings and events as scheduled. Facility: All park facilities and assets will be fully opened and sanitized before opening using a chlorine bleach disinfecting unit. Administrative staff will return to offices and clean their workspaces regularly. 8 BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIVISION Full Restrictions Under full restrictions, non-essential facilities and any other areas that encourage gatherings are closed to the public. Only essential facilities such as Police, Fire, the City Manager’s office and the Maintenance Services Building remain open. Front counter operations take place only by phone or e-mail as much as possible. Building Maintenance administrative staff (Manager, Supervisors, and Administrative Assistants) would be expected to work from home and would only be allowed to work from the office on an as-needed basis with supervisor approval in order to continue to meet resident needs for functions that can only be performed from the Maintenance Services Building. Personnel: Building Maintenance administrative staff are expected to work from home and would only be allowed to work from the office on an as-needed basis with supervisor approval or to serve in a staffing coverage capacity so as not to interrupt operations for the public. Part-time employees may be engaged in work that can be completed from home as assigned by their supervisor or are scheduled to support full-time staff. Full-time staffing is reduced to 20% of normal operations having four to five employees on staff at any given time. Their focus would be maintaining essential facilities and supporting front line departments. Staff will concentrate on disinfecting, sanitation and emergency response. As time allows, non-essential facilities will be serviced to address the needs of other City departments, working from the office. All remaining staff are held on standby to be called in if needed. All vehicles are not to be shared and each vehicle is to be disinfected after each use. All staff will be provided protective masks and required to wear them while at work. Staff may be reassigned to other program areas as needed, including the Emergency Operations Center or other critical services, such as food distribution. Facilities: Non-essential City facilities and any other areas of congregation are closed to the public. Only essential facilities such as Police, Fire, the City Manager’s office and the Maintenance Services Building remain open. Front counter operations take place only by phone or e-mail as much as possible. 9 Moderate Restrictions Under moderate restrictions, essential and non-essential facilities will be occasional occupied by City departments. Workspace, common areas and restrooms would re- opened and require an increased cleaning frequency. Front counter operations would continue to take place only by phone or e-mail if possible and if any human interaction was necessary, proper distancing will be enforced and physical barriers will be erected at counters. Additional Building Maintenance staff will be scheduled each week and Supervisors will continue managing staff schedule from the office with the option to return to work from home when appropriate. Personnel: Building Maintenance administrative staff would have the option to return to the office, but will be encouraged to telecommute for at least two days a week or more. Maintenance staffing will increase to 50%-60% of normal staffing. Staff will focus on increased disinfecting and cleaning frequencies, as well as returning to routine maintenance including HVAC and fire/life safety issues. Staff will start to prepare facilities for the return to normal operations. Building systems will be inspected and tested to ensure an easy return of programs and services. Day and night shifts may resume their normal shifts including the weekend schedule. Protective face masks will be provided for all staff. Staff may be reassigned to other program areas as needed, including the Emergency Operations Center or other critical services, such as food distribution. Facility: Under moderate restrictions, all essential facilities will remain open to essential workers and closed to the public. Each department will be encouraged to wipe down their area prior to starting work and occasional throughout the day to support Building Maintenance efforts. Front counter operations take place only by phone or e-mail as much as possible. Light Restrictions Under light restrictions, additional facilities will reopen based on departmental and program needs. All facilities that are opened will be sanitized prior to opening. Workspaces, common areas and restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected regularly. All maintenance staff will return to work, in normal capacities and start performing deferred maintenance work. Personnel: Staffing will return to 100% under lighter restrictions, but staff will not share vehicles whenever possible and will be encouraged to continue social distancing. Building Maintenance administrative employees will be working at offices, with the option of occasional telecommuting occasionally with supervisor approval. Front office operations 10 will still practice social distancing and use protective barriers at areas of public interactions. Masks will be provided and required to wear protective masks. Facility: In this scenario, staff is prepared for all facilities to be opened to the public with increased cleaning frequencies. All workspaces, common areas and restrooms will be sanitized and will be prioritized based on programming. The Maintenance Services Building lunchroom and conference room will be open to employees but social distancing will be recommended. Each department will be encouraged to wipe down their area prior to starting work and occasional throughout the day. Unrestricted During the unrestricted period, all operations will return to normal and work cycles will resume with an extra effort to catch up on deferred maintenance such as filter replacements, inspections, testing and repairs. Cleansing and proper hygiene protocols will be implemented to keep staff safe. Processes that can be done via computer or online will be pushed to remain virtual. Personnel: All staff return to normal operations with sanitation of work areas as a focus for all employees. Masks will still be issued to employees for optional use. Facility: All facilities will be fully opened and sanitized before opening. Administrative staff will return to offices and clean their workspaces regularly. Each department will be encouraged to wipe down their area prior to starting work and occasional throughout the day. Staff Report DATE: May 19, 2020 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Fiscal Implications Related to COVID-19 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission receive an update on proposed budget implications as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide feedback. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION The City of South San Francisco remains largely fiscally sound due to strong reserves, however, a significant budget deficit is projected as a result of COVID-19 due to decreased sales tax revenue, transient occupancy tax revenue (i.e. hotel tax), and revenues generated from Recreation programs and other City services. As a result, staff has been engaged in budget exercises to reduce the Department’s General Fund footprint. The City Council’s Budget Subcommittee will be meeting on Monday, May 18 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss any potential budget reductions. The staff report, along with any exhibits showing potential budget cuts, will be forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Commission for their information. Staff will be prepared to report on this matter verbally. By: Greg Mediati Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EVENT CALENDAR Month: March 2020 Day Date Event Time Location Sunday 01 Monday 02 Improving Public Places Committee meeting 5:30 p.m. Corp. Yard conference room Tuesday 03 Wednesday 04 Thursday 05 Friday 06 Saturday 07 Sunday 08 Monday 09 Tuesday 10 CPRS Annual Conference & EXPO (3/10-3/13) Long Beach Wednesday 11 City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. MSB Council Chambers Thursday 12 Friday 13 Senior Health Fair Saturday 14 Summer Camp Registration Begins Rescheduled to April 3 – 17 via an e-mail registration process. Sunday 15 Monday 16 Tuesday 17 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting 7:00 p.m. MSB Council Chambers Wednesday 18 Thursday 19 Cultural Arts Commission meeting 6:30 p.m. MSB Betty Weber Friday 20 Saturday 21 Sunday 22 Monday 23 Spring Session Classes Begin Spring Camp Tuesday 24 Spring Camp Wednesday 25 Spring Camp City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. MSB Council Chambers Thursday 26 Spring Camp Friday 27 Spring Camp Saturday 28 Sunday 29 Monday 30 Tuesday 31 Cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EVENT CALENDAR Month: April 2020 Day Date Event Time Location Wednesday 01 After School Program Lottery Registration/Priority Registration (April 1 – 10) Rescheduled to April 3 – 24 via an e-mail registration process. Thursday 02 Friday 03 Author Talk CAC Youth Art Show Magnolia Center MSB Saturday 04 CAC Youth Art Show Easter Egg Hunt MSB Orange Park Sunday 05 Monday 06 Improving Public Places Committee meeting 5:30 p.m. Corp. Yard conference room Tuesday 07 Wednesday 08 City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. Online Meeting Thursday 09 Friday 10 Saturday 11 Sunday 12 Monday 13 Adult Softball League Begins Tuesday 14 Wednesday 15 Thursday 16 Author Talk Cultural Arts Commission meeting 6:30 p.m. Magnolia Center MSB Betty Weber Friday 17 Senior Volunteer Luncheon Saturday 18 Junior Giants Registration Begins Registration postponed to May for virtual program called “Junior Giants at Home” Sunday 19 Monday 20 Tuesday 21 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting 7:00 p.m. MSB Council Chambers Wednesday 22 City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. Online Meeting Thursday 23 Friday 24 Arbor Day Saturday 25 Sunday 26 Youth Karate Tournament Monday 27 Tuesday 28 Wednesday 29 Thursday 30 Cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EVENT CALENDAR Month: June 2020 Day Date Event Time Location TBD Adult Summer Basketball Begins [Postponed - Decision Pending] Monday 01 First Day of Summer Camp [Postponed - Decision Pending] Summer Session Classes Begin [Decision Pending] Improving Public Places Committee meeting 5:30 p.m. Corp. Yard conference room Tuesday 02 Junior Giants Coaches Meeting Wednesday 03 Thursday 04 Friday 05 Saturday 06 Sunday 07 Monday 08 Junior Giants Begins Tuesday 09 Wednesday 10 City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. Pending online meeting (MSB Council Chambers) Thursday 11 Friday 12 Saturday 13 IPP Planting Event (TBD) TBD Sunday 14 Monday 15 Tuesday 16 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting 6:30 p.m. Pending online meeting (MSB Council Chambers) Wednesday 17 Thursday 18 Cultural Arts Commission meeting 6:30 p.m. Pending online meeting (MSB Betty Weber) Friday 19 Outdoor Movie Night in the Park Saturday 20 Sunday 21 Monday 22 Tuesday 23 Wednesday 24 City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. Pending online meeting (MSB Council Chambers) Thursday 25 Friday 26 Saturday 27 Sunday 28 Monday 29 Tuesday 30 Cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: March 26, 2020 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Bi-Weekly Update Parks Update Parks COVID-19 Update In response to the ongoing public health crisis, all playgrounds, picnic facilities, park restrooms, sports courts, in addition to the dog park, skate park, and the bocce courts have been closed to the public to discourage gatherings where individuals do not maintain appropriate social distancing. Signage has been posted at each location. Additionally, staff is locking or caution taping off these amenities whenever possible. All drinking fountains have been turned off. Staff continues to monitor park usage, and may consider expanding closures as necessary. Additionally, the Parks Division reduced staffing by half during the week of March 16. Upon reassessment, the Division has decided to further reduce staffing to four Parks Maintenance staff on hand at any time to maintain minimum safety standards. This will greatly reduce the Division’s capacity to respond to regular maintenance needs. Many routine tasks, like weed abatement, planting, trimming, among many others, will be deferred until staffing returns to a more manageable level. All other Parks staff will be on standby and ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise. The Parks Division recognizes that there will be a large amount of deferred work with this staffing plan, but prioritizes the health and safety of our employees, their families, and the public above all else. Some Good News: Mission Blue Butterfly Sightings! Staff recently spotted the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly in multiple locations on Sign Hill, even in areas where they haven’t been observed since the 1980s. There were also many eggs and caterpillars identified as well, indicating that staff’s efforts on Sign Hill are having a positive impact on the species, and pollinators in general. Bi-Weekly Update March 26, 2020 Page 2 of 2 Building Maintenance Update COVID-19 Building Maintenance Modified Operations Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and in following direction by the Centers for Disease Control, County of San Mateo Health, and California Department of Public Health, Building Maintenance staff have modified operations to minimal staffing in order to reduce potential exposure to employees and the public as a whole. To comply with this mandate, the Building Maintenance Division has implemented a modified work schedule and temporary staff reduction. Building Maintenance will have four staff members on site, seven days a week, working 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to service the Maintenance Services Building, Police Department, Miller Parking Garage, Fire Administration Building and Emergency Operations Center, City Hall and City Hall Annex. Staff not on duty have been placed on standby status and will respond to emergency calls, as necessary. All nonessential preventative maintenance, minor repairs and improvement projects have been placed on hold, until the shelter-in-place order is lifted and staffing levels normalize. CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: April 2, 2020 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Bi-Weekly Update Emergency Childcare Discussions During the week of March 23, several Parks and Recreation staff members participated in two conference calls with other Parks and Recreation agencies in San Mateo County on the topic of providing childcare to health care and other essential workers. The calls were organized by Sheila Canzian, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of San Mateo. Director Canzian received a call from Mills Peninsula Health Services asking her if the City of San Mateo could assist in providing childcare for health care workers. Director Canzian organized the call with other Parks and Recreation agencies in an effort to learn about what childcare programs are being offered, if any, and what resources could be pooled to meet the childcare need for essential workers. As of the meeting on March 26, Director Canzian reported that Mills Peninsula, Seton, Sequoia, and San Mateo County General Hospital reported a total of about 100 children in need of childcare from these hospitals. Staff also learned that Champions Before and After School Program will be opening up childcare prioritized for essential workers at Franklin Elementary School in Burlingame. This is a site in which Champions normally operates a Before and After School Program. Champions plans on starting their program by opening three classrooms with 12 students per room (36 students total) and will consider opening additional classrooms at other sites depending on need, and the availability of staff and supplies. Furthermore, the San Mateo-Foster City School District confirmed that they also will soon be opening a childcare program for essential workers. As of this report, the Department’s Childcare Program has not been asked to activate a childcare site for essential workers, but staff will continue to participate in the countywide discussions to stay connected to the issues. Staff is in touch with Dr. John Skerry, Physician-in-Chief at Kasier Hospital South San Francisco, who reports no local need at present for childcare services. Both SSF Fire and SSF PD report that childcare is not a pressing need for their respective staff members. Note the County’s new Shelter in Place Order does allow operation of childcare facilities, but only to serve the needs of health or emergency workers. Bi-Weekly Update April 2, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Virtual Recreation During these challenging times, the South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department is still committed to providing fun, educational, and recreational resources for community members of all ages. In an effort to continue to meet this need, staff has created the Virtual Recreation & Resource Center, available at www.ssf.net/virtualrec. While the website currently includes links to external recreation resources, staff is working towards providing online classes using videoconferencing software, and making a more personal connection with recreation participants via a series of short videos made by the Department’s instructors and staff members. Good News The Department shares the following in an effort to promote positive news: #SSFStrong The Department’s staff members collaborated to create a #SSFStrong social media post (pictured left), showing appreciation for essential workers and community members. The Facebook post from March 30, 2020 reads: The #SSF Parks and Recreation Team is showing support for #SSFstrong! Our team is spreading some positivity from home to show we are going to get through this together. We would like to say a big #ThankYou to the our Parks and Facility Maintenance divisions, medical professionals, law enforcement, fire department, public works, store clerks, volunteer workers and essential workers on the frontline through the current pandemic. With your hard work and dedication, we are able to stay safe and healthy! We’re kicking off this week with a positive outlook. As a department, we are still here for you and we definitely miss seeing our #SSF community members already. Remember to stay safe & healthy, check in with family & friends, and stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates. We will get www.ssf.net/virtualrec Bi-Weekly Update April 2, 2020 Page 3 of 3 through this together South City! Share your SSF Strong picture with a heart or SSF gear below in the comments or tag us in your post to spread the message 😀😀 Administrative Assistants Report Complimentary Calls from Community Members The Department is always appreciative of our Administrative Assistants – Susan Filereto, Kari Jung, and Cristina Simmons – and the important role they play by interfacing with community members on a daily basis. This role has proven to be even more important during this pandemic as community members continue to express their relief and gratitude to get a hold of a live person when they call. Both Susan and Kari, who have taken the lead on fielding calls for Recreation and the Maintenance divisions respectively, have said that most community members have been supportive and understanding despite our program, playground, and facility closures. Senior Services Team Makes Personal Calls to Seniors The Senior Services Program team from the Parks and Recreation Department’s Magnolia Center has been reaching out to Adult Day Care clients and Magnolia Center participants to check on how they are doing, find out if they have any needs, and try to direct them to services if needed. Staff members miss the Senior Services community and since most participants are in a high risk group, want to make sure that clients are being safe and staying healthy as well as chat with them and catch up socially. The Department appreciates the Senior Services Program team for staying in touch and continuing to serve the City’s seniors the best they can during this challenging time. Joe Anderson, Senior Services Van Driver, Supports SSF Community Volunteer Corps Joe Anderson, the Senior Services Program Van Driver, has been working to deliver food through the South San Francisco Community Volunteer Corps this past week. He delivered 33 boxes of food to 11 SSF seniors one day, and 150 boxes of food on March 30 to help with the demand and need to get food to seniors that really need the assistance. Joe normally is responsible for driving clients to and from the Adult Day Care program, as well as providing general assistance to all Senior Services programs at Magnolia Center. The Department thanks Joe for going above and beyond to help seniors in SSF. CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: April 9, 2020 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Bi-Weekly Update Parks Update Modified Operations Update During the COVID-19 crisis, the Parks Division is dedicated to keeping staff and residents healthy and safe, while focusing on keeping parks free of any potential hazards. Currently, Parks Division staffing has been reduced to five individuals working in the field at a time, in one week rotations. All staff are practicing social distancing and all other recommended preventative measures while they are working their shifts. While we work to get through these difficult times, the Division’s priorities are to keep park spaces clean and safe for the public by sanitizing surfaces, trash and litter pick up, keeping pathways clear, and hazard abatement. Park amenities such as bathrooms, playgrounds, sports courts, picnic areas, the skate park, bocce courts, and the dog park have all been closed to the public. City staff will be working on other duties as time permits, but there will be a noticeable decrease in maintenance standards, especially along medians and right-of-way areas. The Parks Division will ensure that any traffic safety issues will be quickly dealt with, but weed abatement and litter pick up on medians will come secondary to areas that the public are using on a regular basis. Sign Hill Restoration Program Update While staffing has been reduced, the Division’s Sign Hill Restoration Program has shifted focus from field work to creating educational materials for residents. Staff are creating short “nature walk” videos guiding viewers through some of the plant species and points of interest on Sign Hill. Staff is also working on creating a printable children’s nature guide, and a tri-fold field guide for common plants that can be found in South San Francisco on Sign Hill and elsewhere. During this shelter in place period, Sign Hill is still experiencing some neighborhood use, and the City has posted signage on how to enjoy the park safely and responsibly to protect both resident health and the natural resources that can be found there. While the Division is temporarily reducing staffing levels, we are also aware that we do not want to lose the progress made on Sign Hill to date. The spring season is the most important time for combating invasive species and establishing new native plants. The Divisions’ Natural Resource Specialist will be checking on the new plantings and surveying the park at least once every two weeks. Recently, staff conducted a survival rate study on the new native plantings, and found 88% of newly installed plants are surviving. This is quite promising and a very high survival rate, as new plantings in open space settings generally have a 50% - 60% survival rate. Bi-Weekly Update April 9, 2020 Page 2 of 2 Building Maintenance Update Terrabay Recreation Building Floor Repairs Prior to the shelter in place order, Building Maintenance staff hired a flooring contractor to make repairs to the tile floors at the Terrabay Recreation Building. The original locker rooms and restrooms were constructed using a small hexagon tile. Over the years the tiles broke and a large crack formed in the locker rooms due to the settling of the building. Contractors overlaid the tile floor with an attractive epoxy coating. The floor is now cleaner, more durable, and easier to maintain. Before After Fire Station 64 Remodel Update Building Maintenance staff were notified that the Fire Station 64 renovation project has been completed, and required a new gas dryer prior to opening. Building Maintenance purchased and installed the dryer the same day. CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: April 23, 2020 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Bi-Weekly Update Parks Update Operations Update The Parks Division continues to operate with five maintenance staff on one week rotations, while the remainder are “on call” for duties as needed. All staff are practicing social distancing and all other recommended preventative measures while they are working their shifts. While we work to get through these difficult times, the Division’s priorities are to keep our park areas clean and safe for the public by wiping down hard surfaces, cleaning and changing trash bins, litter pick up, keeping pathways clear, and hazard abatement. Park amenities such as bathrooms, playgrounds, sports courts, the skate park, bocce courts, and the dog park remain closed to the public. During this spring growing season and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks Division is focusing on balancing staffing levels, public safety, and basic maintenance tasks so as not to fall too far behind. Since the rains have receded for the time being, staff have been focusing on mowing turf areas, prioritizing ballfield infields and our larger, more frequently used parks. This weather causes grasses and weeds to grow very quickly, and may create unsafe conditions. Staff will also be performing minor weed abatement with any additional time that may be available outside of these hazard mitigation duties. Staff have additionally practiced utilizing a new sterilization device at the Orange Park Shelter and bathrooms for the food distribution event and to prepare for opening playgrounds and park amenities when the shelter in place order is lifted. This device is essentially a spray gun attached to a hose, with a chamber for chlorinated pellets that produce a disinfecting mixture of water and a bleach/chlorine type compound that kills odors, viruses, bacteria, mold and algae. This device will be used on all playgrounds, benches, picnic tables, bathrooms, and other park assets that frequently are contacted by the public. The chemical mixture is environmentally friendly, EPA and USDA approved, and is pet, plant and people friendly. Once the order is lifted, the Parks Division plans to open each facility one at a time after they have been disinfected using a combination of this device and our standard disinfecting cleaning products. Lastly, the Division has been coordinating with the Recreation and the Facilities Divisions to prepare for the lifting of the shelter in place order. All three divisions are making a concerted effort Bi-Weekly Update April 23, 2020 Page 2 of 2 to ensure that as many of the Department’s programs and services as possible are reactivated safely. Sign Hill Update Emma Lewis, the Parks Division’s Natural Resource Specialist, was a guest speaker at the first ever San Bruno Mountain Conference, held on Sunday, April 19. Due to the COVID-19 shelter in place order, the conference, originally scheduled to be held at the Mission Blue Center in Brisbane, was held remotely by web conference. County Supervisor Dave Canepa made opening remarks prior to presentations from experts on horticulture and environmental restoration from the California Native Plant Society, San Bruno Mountain Watch, San Mateo County Parks Department, City of Brisbane and City of South San Francisco. Topics covered included native plant species, endangered butterflies, wildflowers commonly seen in the spring, and the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for San Bruno Mountain. The conference culminated with Emma’s presentation on the City’s restoration work on Sign Hill. Once the conference recording is made available, staff will share with the City Council for their information. CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: April 30, 2020 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Bi-Weekly Update Shelter-in-Place Order Extended Consistent with the County Health Officer’s revised order to extend the shelter-in-place mandate for the entire month of May, recreation programs and facilities continue to be closed to the public, and staff is largely working remotely. Additionally, park amenities including picnic areas, sports courts, the dog park, skate park, restrooms, drinking fountains remain closed. Some loosening of specific restrictions are expected in the coming days, but have not been announced by the County Health Officer at the time of drafting this report. Staff will continue to notify residents and participants of program closures on the Recreation Division website at www.ssf.net/rec. Recreation Staff Continue to Serve Despite SIP The Parks and Recreation Department has over 200 part-time employees who are unable to work, or are only working on a limited basis, due to the shelter-in-place (SIP) orders. While many full- time administrative staff have remained busy planning alternative programs, preparing for future opening of services to the public, and serving in the EOC, the Department would like to acknowledge that many part-time staff are also committed to continuing to serve the community during this time. We are proud to acknowledge Parks and Recreation staff members for their initiative to think creatively and try out new ideas about alternative ways to offer recreation services. Many staff members have expressed relief and appreciation for the City’s very generous commitment to pay all employees through the end of June. It should be noted that while the Department’s workforce serves as short-term employment for some individuals, many have served the City for several years (some as much as 20+ years), and many others remain committed to the City by returning seasonally to assist with special events or as needed year to year. Bi-Weekly Update April 30, 2020 Page 2 of 5 Instructor Highlight Parks and Recreation sewing instructor, Judy Barretto, has been applying her talents to sewing face masks for City employees. On Friday, April 17, Judy delivered her first batch of approximately 45 face masks to staff at the Maintenance Services Building. The masks are sturdy and come in many different patterns. Once she completed the masks, Judy washed them and inserted each mask into a zip-lock bag in order to keep them clean. Judy has agreed to continue making masks for City employees from home for the next several weeks during her regularly scheduled work hours and continues to work with Recreation Supervisor Devin Stenhouse to deliver masks on a weekly basis. She has even expressed her willingness to volunteer her time if a greater supply of masks is needed at once. Judy’s efforts are greatly appreciated. Virtual Recreation Classes The Department launched its very first virtual recreation class via the GoToMeeting application during the week of April 20 with Knitting and Crocheting. Students participated in a two-hour class, going through a modified lesson plan for the purpose of virtual learning. Students expressed their excitement at the opportunity to connect with their favorite instructors and classmates online, and look forward to continuing their courses virtually. As of the week of April 27, there are several classes being offered each week to participants who were originally registered for Spring classes. These classes include Belly Dancing, Knitting and Crochet, and Ballet. The Department is piloting these classes with past participants first in order to help instructors become familiar with teaching via GoToMeeting. At this point, the Department anticipates offering virtual recreation classes through June 30 free of charge to the community. Masks made by Recreation Instructor Judy Barretto Knitting and Crocheting with Recreation Instructor Victoria Gavidia Ballet with Recreation Instructor Maria Spremich Bi-Weekly Update April 30, 2020 Page 3 of 5 Virtual Recreation Program Videos Another area in which the Department has continued our community connections is via the creation of pre-recorded videos. These videos are available on the Department’s Virtual Recreation and Resource Center webpage at www.ssf.net/virtualrec under the category “SSF Parks and Recreation Department Virtual Videos.” The Department continues to build up our video catalogue. Screen shot of K-5 Basketball Warm-up Drills with Recreation Coordinator Bill Stridbeck, also known as “Coach Bill” Summer Camp After cancelling the in-person Summer Camp Registration Day on Saturday, March 14, the Department modified the in-person registration process using electronically fillable registration forms that prospective participants can complete on a computer and submit via e-mail, and submit payments online. An alternative mail-in process is also available to community members who do not have access to a computer. Over 300 families submitted lottery forms to participate in the summer camp registration. The lottery determines the order in which registration forms will be processed. Staff are in the process of enrolling participants into their desired camps, or if the camp is full, into their second choice of camp or on the waiting list. While the Department does not yet know how public health policies and guidelines will impact Bi-Weekly Update April 30, 2020 Page 4 of 5 summer camp beginning on June 1, staff is working on alternative scenarios in which to offer camp that would allow for greater social distancing. This includes: • Reducing the number of children accepted into each camp to allow more social distancing. • At sites where there is limited indoor space to allow children their own classrooms, i.e. Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building, staff is considering using other community centers and school sites to relocate children. The school district has offered space at Monte Verde Elementary School for this purpose. • The Department may cancel all fieldtrips and swimming at Orange Pool to reduce exposure to large crowds. Staff will continue to monitor the public health orders and best practices learned from childcare services being offered to essential workers by other agencies in order to redesign the Department’s summer camp program. EOC Staffing As the COVID-19 pandemic began to force people from across the nation to shelter in place, the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated. The objective of the EOC is to help to ensure health and safety of City staff and the public throughout the COVID-19 event while maintaining fiscal accountability. The EOC also helps provide public messaging that meets the need of the public, City employees, and elected officials as well as track, fulfill, and deploy logistical items to support the COVID-19 response. As a disaster service worker, the efforts from the staff will ensure that the community is able to recover as quickly as possible. The EOC team is over 50 members strong and the following Parks and Recreation staff are assisting in the efforts: • Deputy Director of Emergency Services: Sharon Ranals • Care and Shelter Unit: Mike Mulkerrins, Kelli Jo Cullinan, Austin Navarro • Documentation Unit: Erin O’Brien and Brian Noce Cultural Arts Update General Art Show Follow-up – Complimentary Letter by Artist A member of the Hunter’s Point Shipyard Artists group and South San Francisco General Art Show finalist, Eileen Downey, sent staff the copy of a letter that she sent to the 250 Hunter’s Point artist community members. This letter is available in Attachment 1. In it she expressed her respect and admiration for the members of the South San Francisco Cultural Arts Commission who facilitated the presentation of the art show, from receiving the art to the hosting of the event. She also commended the care and attention to detail shown by Cultural Arts Specialist Ercie Santos, from preparing event documents to the work involved in producing the event. She noted that Specialist Santos was readily available for assistance. She conveyed her overall happiness with the experience and encouraged her colleagues to participate in the future 2021 presentation of this art gallery event. Bi-Weekly Update April 30, 2020 Page 5 of 5 Cultural Arts Webpage Artist Resources for Financial Hardships The Cultural Arts Commission webpage at www.ssf.net/culturalarts currently shows newly-added links to organizations that offer financial resources to artists and creative professionals who are suffering economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The addition of this information was prompted through the request of Commissioner Michael DeNatale who brought a KQED article to the attention of staff. Cultural Arts Specialist Santos located and included additional links from the California Arts Council and the American for the Arts organization. Screen shot excerpt of artist resources available at www.ssf.net/culturalarts Attachment 1 Complimentary Letter from Artist Eileen Downey to members of the Hunter's Point Shipyard Artists CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: May 7, 2020 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Bi-Weekly Update Parks Update Sign Hill Restoration Project Update This winter, as part of the Sign Hill Habitat Restoration Project, Parks staff and volunteers planted over 500 native plants on Sign Hill and removed tens of thousands of invasive weeds to improve habitat for the endangered Mission Blue butterfly. They planted nectar rich wildflowers as well as silver lupines, the host plant for Mission Blue caterpillars. These plants were locally sourced from the Mission Blue Nursery run by the non-profit organization, San Bruno Mountain Watch. Staff have been diligently monitoring these plantings and after a few months of growth, staff is finally seeing the results from the hard work and planning that was put into the planting. Plants such as California phacelia have put out their first flowers and the silver lupines have increased tenfold in size, attracting the endangered Mission Blue butterflies. Most notably, the Division’s Natural Resources Specialist identified multiple Mission Blue eggs on the silver lupines planted during the volunteer events. These eggs are a great indicator that our restoration efforts are not only very successful, but accurately targeting the endangered species that South San Francisco seeks to protect. The more lupine that can be established and protected on Sign Hill, the better chance these butterflies have to increase their population. EGG Bi-Weekly Update May 7, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Sign Hill Tree Work Update As part of the Parks Division’s objective to reduce fuel load and enhance safety for the users of Sign Hill, Davey Tree Service was hired to perform hazardous tree removals along the trail that extends from Ridge Court to the top of Sign Hill. Last year, Davey Tree Service performed hazard removal and fuel reduction work along the southern flank of the hill, stretching from the Poplar Avenue entrance west behind the homes on Rocca Avenue. This work along the Ridge Trail was the final phase of this project. The work performed here abated many dead and hazardous trees along this frequently used stretch of trail. In an effort to reuse resources as much as possible, Parks staff instructed that the tree chips be left on the hill and stockpiled to be used for habitat restoration efforts. Parks staff also instructed contractors to place the large trunks of the trees that were not able to be chipped along the trail margins to better delineate the trails for hikers. These tree trunks will also help prevent people from going off trail and stepping on potentially sensitive habitats. Citywide Landscaping Contract Update As the City Council is aware, the City has contracted with Brightview Landscaping LLC for landscape maintenance services in the Common Greens areas and various medians, shoulders, and park areas in South San Francisco. This two-year contract expires on June 30, 2020, however, when staff was drafting and awarding the request for proposals in 2018, staff included a provision to extend the contract in one-year increments with City Council’s approval for a total contract term of five years. Staff prepared a request for proposals early in the year, however, in light of the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent financial implications, coupled with 5-10% cost escalation year over year for contractual maintenance services in recent years, the Parks and Recreation Department is working with Brightview to extend the contract for one additional year, with no cost increase to the City. Brightview is currently drafting an addendum to the contract. This item will go before City Council in the coming weeks for approval. If any members of the City Council have questions or concerns related to this matter, please contact Greg Mediati at [email protected]. Facilities Update Building Fire Alarm Inspection and Testing The Building Maintenance team continues to safely maintain City buildings during the shelter-in-place order. Recently, contractors have performed inspections and testing of the fire alarm systems at the Magnolia Senior Center, Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building, Westborough Recreation Building and the Maintenance Services Building. These systems are required by code to be inspected and tested quarterly to ensure they will operate in the event of a fire. The remaining City buildings are in the process of being scheduled for inspection, as required. Bi-Weekly Update May 7, 2020 Page 3 of 3 Elevator Inspections and Repairs The Building Maintenance team is also ensuring that the elevators are safe and working properly. The State of California performs an annual inspection of every elevator prior to issuing an operating permit. Recently, the State provided the City with a report noting minor deficiencies and required testing for the Miller Garage and Main Library elevators. Once the reports were received, the Building Maintenance team worked with an elevator repair vendor to successfully complete the work. The State will be issuing new elevator permits to the City in the coming weeks. Parks and Facilities Staffing Update The loosening of the shelter-in-place order is allowing for additional Parks and Building Maintenance staff to return to work. The Parks and Recreation management team is coordinating the return of all maintenance staff to be deployed in a safe manner. While this means the parks, buildings and other areas that have been subject to deferred maintenance due to the pandemic will be serviced, it also means that the Department will need to implement enhanced safety protocols to keep employees healthy and working safely, which may result in some loss of productivity. These protocols range from appropriate PPE usage, physical distancing, staggering arrival and departure schedules, and sanitation practices for vehicles, tools, office spaces and common areas. More information about departmental plans for the gradual “Restoration of Operations” (ROOP) in response to some relaxation in the County of San Mateo’s Shelter in Place Order will be provided at the City Council meeting of May 13, 2020. CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: May 14, 2020 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Bi-Weekly Update Seniors Services Program Continues to Serve Community During SIP While the public health orders have forced the closure of Magnolia Center, the primary hub for the Department’s Senior Services Program, the Senior Services team continues to serve South San Francisco’s older adults by: • Writing a Senior Connections - Spring Special Edition newsletter (Attachment 1), which is available online and has been mailed to subscribers during the week of May 11. Staff member John Lau worked diligently to produce this special edition, which includes information and resources for food and meals, city events, information about the Department’s Virtual Recreation website, COVID-19 information, social connections, how to use web conferencing software, some fun puzzles and riddles, and much more. The newsletter also includes information about the Great Plates Delivered Program. This program, managed through San Mateo County, is a new service that matches older adults who meet certain qualifications with local restaurants to receive nutritious meals. Qualifications include being at high risk with underlying health conditions as well as high risk from COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure. • Making approximately 150 calls per week to Adult Day Care clients and caregivers, senior center clients, and return calls for services and information that come through Magnolia Center. Staff is providing information and referral services as well as providing much needed social contact. • Putting together activity kits for Adult Day Care clients and delivering the kits to their homes. • Supporting the South San Francisco Volunteer Corp (SSFCVC) by providing food pick-up and delivery to SSF seniors who are in need of food. This has been a collaborative effort between Sheri Boles – Community Programs Manager, Kelli Jo Cullinan – Senior Services Program Supervisor, and Joe Anderson – Senior Services Program Van Driver. Food boxes are made possible from two sources. One is the Second Harvest Food Bank, with 40 to 60 food boxes being delivered daily. The other source is made possible by a donation from a generous South San Francisco resident, with food supplied by a local Bi-Weekly Update May 14, 2020 Page 2 of 4 produce vendor. Staff have been collecting names from interested seniors and through this generous donation, the City will be able to provide 40 seniors in South San Francisco with a food box, a face mask made and donated by Childcare Program Supervisor, Laura Armanino, the Senior Connections Spring Special Edition newsletter, and some informational flyers on local resources to assist seniors during these challenging times. • Inviting older adults and seniors to celebrate May is National Older Adult Month and taking part in this year’s theme of “make your mark.” The Senior Connections - Spring Special Edition newsletter invites older adults and seniors to reach out to staff by sharing the many ways they have made their mark on the world. Staff is looking forward to hearing back from the older adult community. The Senior Services team remains committed to serving older adults and continues to explore alternative ways to serve the community until we can gather again at Magnolia Center and the Municipal Services Building to resume in-person programs and activities. 2020 Junior Giants Program While COVID-19 places a questionable status on any summer sports programs, the Department is pleased to continue on to its tenth year participating in the Junior Giants program by offering Junior Giants at Home, a free virtual program for youth ages 5 to 18. Spring and summer sessions will be offered. Twice per week, Junior Giants participants are introduced to the fundamentals of baseball at home and will learn important lessons in health, education, and character development. Registration is open and families in South San Francisco can register and learn more about the program through the League’s Digital Dugout link at https://jrgiantsathome.org/south-san- francisco. Starting dates for each session are as follows: • Spring session: May 11 – June 6 • Summer session #1: June 8 – July 4 • Summer session #2: July 6 – August 1 Before the COVID-19 crisis, Sports Program Coordinator Bill Stridbeck was looking forward to another successful year for the Junior Giants program. In 2019, the SSF Junior Giants league hosted 322 children and volunteers over three divisions including tee ball (ages 5-6), minors (ages 7-9), and majors (ages 10-13). Cultural Arts Commission – Northern California Public Art Administrators meeting Cultural Arts Specialist Ercie Santos attended the virtual online meeting of the Northern California Public Art Administrators Network (PAAN) on Friday, April 24, 2020, hosted by the City of Palo Alto – Public Art Program directors. The PAAN administrators represent a regional network of government agencies and art consultants who meet to discuss specific public art issues in their communities and statewide at large. There were roughly 40 participants representing cities throughout the Bay Area and as far away as Sacramento. The meeting focused on the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the local art community and public art programs. Bi-Weekly Update May 14, 2020 Page 3 of 4 The primary discussion was on how to best position the importance of public art in the coming months. Members agreed that it was imperative to include the creative sector in relief efforts and funding. Creative industries are an invaluable economic driver that is essential for growth in cities. To that end, one suggestion was to create a vision statement that communicated the economic and intrinsic value of the arts to elected officials and the community. Art consultant, Barbara Goldstein, reminded participants that similar to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) movement of the previous century, the contributions of creatives to this uncommon moment in time are invaluable. Through their perspective, events unique to their communities would be preserved in design and storytelling, and would serve as a legacy of documentation for the ages. The next meeting is scheduled for October. However, due to the ongoing gravity of the situation, participants unanimously agreed to add a third meeting to the schedule, date to be announced. Compliments from the Community Staff is appreciative of the many supportive comments we have received from community members by phone and through e-mail. Below is a sampling of some of the nice comments received by staff. • To Senior Program Supervisor Kelli Jo Cullinan, in response to the Senior Connections - Spring Special Edition newsletter: “Just wanted to let you know that this is written with great heartfelt sincerity and compassion. This not only makes them feel better, it shows they matter. You and your team certainly make a difference for them and yourself by being selfless, caring, and helpful. God bless all of you and stay safe.” • To Childcare Program Supervisor Laura Armanino, and in reference to Acting Classes Program Supervisor Devin Stenhouse; “What a commendable job you, Devin, and your entire team are doing amidst the shelter-in-place mandate! Maria Spremich's new virtual ballet class yesterday was a huge hit for our returning young ballerinas. Additionally, the little things that Parks and Rec continues to do to rally the community -- like the virtual Easter Egg hunts and Earth Day -- have been a welcome reprieve during this anxious time -- THANK YOU!” Networking for Solutions Parks and Recreation staff have regularly checked in with colleagues in nearby cities and have taken advantage of the resources available through professional organizations such as the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to troubleshoot issues arising from COVID-19. Assistant City Manager/Parks and Recreation Director Sharon Ranals and Deputy Director Greg Mediati have participated in almost weekly meetings with other San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Directors. The Director meetings typically take place Bi-Weekly Update May 14, 2020 Page 4 of 4 monthly, but have increased in frequency as the Directors have collaborated on topics such as providing childcare to essential workers and having a coordinated response to opening programs as shelter-in-place restrictions are relaxed. In addition, staff has participated in CPRS weekly virtual conferencing meetings. These meetings take place throughout the week and are designated by areas of focus including the Administrators Section, Aquatics Section, Recreation Section, Aging Section, and others. While these resources have always been available, they have proven to be even more valuable for brainstorming solutions during this time of COVID-19. Senior  Saying Connected with Zoom….………...8 2020 Spring Magnolia Center Connections  Food and Meal Services………….......2  Puzzles and games…….….……......9 Special Edition A Special Message to our Magnolia Center Community: Hi Everyone, I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy in these challenging times as we deal with Covid-19. Although our locations are currently closed, the senior program team is committed to serving our older adult community and we will try our best to stay in touch and provide information and assistance to everyone that wants/needs it. Please call 650-829-3822 or email me at [email protected] for information, assistance, if you would like a social call, or just if you want to share anything with us. For this special edition newsletter, instead of sharing our programs and activities usually found in our newsletter, we will be sharing with you some resources that you may find helpful during these challenging and difficult times. We hope you know you may always reach out to us, but we also want to provide you with some resources you can also access in our city and county. Your health and safety is at the top of our priorities. May is National Older Adult Month and although we may not be able to celebrate together at Magnolia or the Municipal Services Building with you, know our senior program team, the SSF Parks and Recreation Department and the City of South San Francisco team want to thank you for the countless contributions that you all make in our Community!! Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The theme for 2020 is "Make Your Mark." This theme was selected to encourage and celebrate countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. Their time, experience, and talents benefit family, peers, and neighbors every day. We would love to hear your stories of how you have made your “Make Your Mark”. Please share with us by sending in your stories of how you have made your mark….you can send in pictures, stories, poems, etc by emailing me at [email protected] This can be a fun way for us to communicate and to learn more about you, especially during our shelter in place and until we can gather again at Magnolia or in our senior programs. We miss you all very much and hope you are all doing well. In the future, when we can safely gather again, we look forward to see and serving you once more. We also want to thank you for all the wonderful things you have done to make your mark in this World, in our Community, and in our hearts. Cheers, Kelli Jo & The Senior Program Team (Marianna, Fran, Joe, John, Bruce, Cristina, Vangie, Lilian, Marilyn) Special Edition 2 Did you know that the Parks and Recreatfon Department has created an online Virtual Recreatfon and Resource Center? During these challenging tfmes, the South San Francisco Parks and Recreatfon Department is stfll committed to providing fun, educa- tfonal, and recreatfonal resources for community members of all ages. You can access the webpage from your smartphones or computers at https://www.ssf.net/virtualrec. Take a virtual tour through a museum, learn a foreign language, join SSF instructors for an online class, and so much more! Staff are contfnuously updatfng the site, so be sure to check back often. Food & Meal Services SSF Parks and Rec is online to serve you! Great Plates Delivered Program-Meal Delivery for Seniors For SSF older adults/seniors that need prepared meals delivered to your homes, this is a great opportunity to apply for this service. Please make sure you qualify and read the following information provided for the Great Plates Delivered Program. San Mateo County is launching the Great Plates Delivered Program, a new service that matches older adults at high risk with underlying health conditions as well as high risk from COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure with local restaurants to provide three nutritious meals a day. Meals are delivered from restaurants and other food providers across San Mateo County, helping our older adults to stay home and stay healthy as we continue to shelter in place. The program also provides an avenue for local businesses to continue or re-open operations softening the losses being felt by the COVID crisis. San Mateo County began outreaching to restaurants on May 1st and has received overwhelming interest from many who are ready to start cooking and delivering. Great Plates Delivered San Mateo County is now ready to enroll participants. HERE IS THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: AGE  Anyone 65 years of age or older  Anyone 60-64 who is COVID-19 positive  Anyone 60-64 who has been exposed to COVID-19 with written proof from a medical professional  Anyone 60-64 with an underlying health condition IF YOU CAN ANSWER “YES” TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: Resident of San Mateo County Live alone or with one other eligible adult Do not receive meals from any other federal or state program Do not have family, friends, or caregivers who can help with meals Unable to prepare or shop for meals Have income less than $74,940 for single person Interested older adults/seniors that meet the qualifiers to participate (as stated above) and want to apply for the Great Plates Delivered San Mateo County, Please call the AAS Hotline to apply. Multi-lingual county staff can assist the caller in completing the form. Here is the number: (800) 675-8437. There is also a link provided to determine eligibility if needed, but it is best to use the telephone number above to apply for the program. Here is the link to a survey to determine eligibility: https://smcgov-106028.workflowcloud.com/forms/969663d6-479d-4138-afb1-e8b117fb25b5 Food & Meal Services (continued) Special Edition 3 City of South San Francisco: The City of South San Francisco will hold food distributfon sites in May and June. The locatfons will be Mills Montessori School (formerly Hillside Elementary School), 1400 Hillside Blvd, South San Francisco on:  Friday, May 8, 10:00 a.m. - Noon  Friday, May 22, 10:00 a.m. - Noon  Friday, June 12, 10:00 a.m. - Noon  Friday, June 26, 10:00 a.m. - Noon Second Harvest Food Bank 1-800-984-3663 https://www.shbf.org/ YMCA Community Resource Center 1-650-276-4101 https://www.ymcasf.org/community-resource-center-ymca Meals on Wheels 1-650-323-2022 https://www.penvol.org/mealsonwheels/ St Vincent De Paul provides meal assistance to the elderly. 344 Grand Ave. (650) 589-9039 Chajinel Foundation provides nutritfous food to homebound older adults in South San Francisco. Call 650-741-6107 or e-mail [email protected]. https://www.chajinel.com/ City of Daly City: Doelger Senior Center, 101 Lake Merced Boulevard (650) 991-8012 Lincoln Community Center, 901 Brunswick Street (650) 991-8018 http://www.dalycity.org/City_Hall/Departments/LibraryandRecreatfonServices/rec/Actfve_Adults__Seniors.htm Food & Meal Services (continued) Special Edition City of San Bruno: San Bruno Community Foundation If you are an elderly, homebound, or at-risk San Bruno resident who needs help getting groceries or other assistance, contact us at [email protected] or 650-826-3182. City of Pacifica: The Senior Services Division of the City of Pacifica Call (650)738-7350 for informatfon. https://www.cityofpacifica.org/civicax/filebank/ 4 5 Food & Meal Services (continued) Special Edition If you are an older adult that seeks Information about food or meals, a healthy person age 18 or over who is willing to help out people in need, are in a compromised position, or need assistance during this global health pandemic, the City of South San Francisco is here to help and has compiled many resources for their residents during this time of need. www.ssf.net/Coronavirus Sheri Boles Community Program Manager City of South San Francisco [email protected] 650-829-6680 Kelli Jo Cullinan Recreation and Community Services Supervisor Senior Programs-City of South San Francisco [email protected] 650-829-3822 General Food Assistance for San Mateo County: Second Harvest Food Bank: If you are not a senior citfzen, but you are experiencing food insecurity in your household, you can call the Food Connectfon Line at Second Harvest Food Bank at (800) 984-3663 or text "FOOD" to 1-408-455-5181 or email [email protected]. Jewish Family and Children's Services- The Food Bank and the grocery shopping assistance is open to all. Food can be delivered through out San Mateo County, except the Coast, for those 60 years and over. Shopping to be paid for by client with cash, credit card or check. Food bank, limited to items in their bank and is free. JFCS can be reached at 650-931-1860 or email them at [email protected]. Love Your Neighbor Hotline: Those who are unable to get the food and essentfals that they need are invited to call our hot- line (888) 237-7807 or [email protected]. English webpage: https://sfarch.org/loveyourneighbor Spanish webpage: https://sfarchdiocese.org/amaatuprojimo Self Help for the Elderly- Call to speak with a team member about meals in Millbrae or San Mateo: (415) 677-7600. Grocery Stores and More that Have Hours for Older Adults City of South San Francisco larger grocery stores: https://www.ssf.net/home/showdocument?id=19154 Bay Area stores that have “Senior Hours”: https://sf.funcheap.com/city-guide/grocery-store-senior-hour/ We are accepting 2020 newsletter subscriptions. The cost is $10 per year for subscribers. Please fill out this form and mail it back to us with a check payable to: City of South San Francisco Senior Services: SSF Senior Connections Newsletter 33 Arroyo, South San Francisco, CA 94080 Name ________________________ Telephone ________________________ Address Street ________________________ City ________________________ Zip ________________________ Newsletter Subscription Support Services & Information Special Edition Due to the current COVID-19 Shelter in Place Order, many community organizations have made changes to their services, hours and staffing. These resources are current as of the time of this newsletter being updated. Please call ahead or visit a program's website for more information. Updated as of 4/14/2020.  Benefits: Social Security National: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/ Field Office Locator https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp  Caregivers Resources for Those Caring for Older Adults, Adults with Disabilities Impacted by COVID-19 Institute on Aging Services: 415-750-4111 https://www.ioaging.org/services San Mateo County In-Home Support Services (IHSS) Eligi- bility and Applicatfon Aging and Adult Services Hotline 1- 800-675-8437 https://www.smchealth.org/home-supportfve-services  Caregiving San Mateo County Public Authority for In-Home Sup- portive Services (IHSS) 650-372-6507 https://www.smchealth.org/public-authority Family Caregiver Alliance 800-445-8106 toll-free 415-434-3388 local https://www.caregiver.org/ Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900 https://www.alz.org/  COVID-19 Information- San Mateo County San Mateo County services and information on COVID-19 https://www.smcgov.org/ San Mateo County Health COVID-19 Call Center: Available 24/7 For informatfon and referral for health and human services or for non-medical questfons about COVID-19, contact 211 at: 2-1 -1- (or 1-800-273-6222) or text your zip code to: 898211. https://www.smchealth.org/coronavirus Social Distancing Video (Available in English, Chinese and Spanish) https://www.smchealth.org/pod/video-social-distancing San Mateo County services and information on COVID-19 https://www.smcgov.org/ Questions about Social Distancing https://www.smchealth.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/ smc_health_-_social_distancing_040320_final_0.pdf  Connect with Others: Friendship Line The Friendship line provides counseling and support to older adults and adults living with disabilitfes in both crisis and non-urgent situatfons. 1-800–971–0016 www.ioaging.org/services/friendship-line Peninsula Family Service Senior Peer Counseling (650) 403-4300 ext.4322 https://www.peninsulafamilyservice.org/our-programs/ older-adult-services/seniorpeercounseling/ Well Connected: a community made up of partfcipants, staff, facilitators, presenters, and other volunteers who care about each other and who value being connected. All groups are accessible by phone from wherever you are at no cost to you. To register f you’re ready to register, call (877) 797-7299, or [email protected] https://covia.org/services/well-connected/  Employment/Unemployment Resources Employee Rights: Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/ FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf Employment Opportunities: San Mateo County Public Authority for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) 650 372-8507 https://www.smchealth.org/contact/become-caregiver Peninsula Family Service Financial Empowerment https:// www.peninsulafamilyservice.org/our-programs/financial- empowerment/ State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm  Financial Support Core Service Agencies https://hsa.smcgov.org/core-service-agencies-emergency-safety -net-assistance 6  Connect with Others (continued): Peninsula Health Care District-Older Adult Resource Line All those 60+ in San Mateo County can stay connected to resources and services during this tfme of “sheltering in place”. An experienced professional support team will be able to connect you to a wide range of community resources including food services. The Adult Resource Line is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please call 1-650-780-7542.  Housing: HIP HOUSING:HIP provides referrals for Shared Housing Optfons & Home Equity Conversions Call 650-348-6660. By appointment only. County of San Mateo Department of Housing: https://housing.smcgov.org/ COVID-19 San Mateo County Eviction Regulations: https://housing.smcgov.org/covid-19-smc-evictfon- regulatfons Office of Governor Gavin Newsom 90 Day Grace Period on Mortgage Payments: https://www.gov.ca.gov/  Pet Care Peninsula Humane Society Making a plan for your pet and pet food bank 650-988-5280 https://phs-spca.org/covid19/  Phone Lines Aging and Adult Services Hotline- San Mateo County’s 24- hour informatfon and emergency response line. It helps older adults, people with disabilitfes, dependent adults, and caregiv- ers access the services they need to keep them safe. The hot- line is staffed by knowledgeable and experienced social work- ers and public health nurses. (800) 675-8437 https://www.smchealth.org/contact/24-hour-emergency- advice-line Peninsula Family Service 211- Connects Bay Area residents with health & human service programs in their local community: https://www.211bayarea.org/  Prescription Delivery CVS- Must sign up for text alerts or download app to be notffied of delivery optfons: cvs.com/content/delivery https://www.cvs.com/content/delivery NOWRX Free delivery within 5 hours of receiving prescriptfon from South San Francisco to North San Jose. No signature required at delivery with the exceptfon of controlled substances. (650) 386-5761 or www.nowrx.com. Walgreens- Sign up for text alerts and then chose delivery optfon https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/walgreens- express.jsp  Scams: Aging and Adult Services Adult Protective Services: https://www.smchealth.org/aging-and-adult-services- protectfon County of San Mateo District Attorney Illegal Price Gouging During COVID-19 Emergency: https://da.smcgov.org/price-gouging-covid-19 The United States Department of Justice Coronavirus (COVID- 19): https://www.justfce.gov/coronavirus  Stress and Coping: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https:// www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/ managing-stress-anxiety.html Institute on Aging Friendship Line Toll Free: 1-800-971-0016 www.ioaging.org/services/friendship-line Peninsula Health Care District-Older Adult Resource Line All those 60+ in San Mateo County can stay connected to resources and services during this tfme of “sheltering in place”. An experienced professional support team will be able to connect you to a wide range of community resources including food services. The Adult Resource Line is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please call 1-650-780- 7542. Star Vista Main office: 650-591-9623 https://star-vista.org/ Support Services & Information Special Edition 7  Tax Preparation VITA through the United Way is preparing taxes using Zoom Video Conferencing. You can find the information at: https://earnitkeepitsaveit.org/ AARP The IRS has pushed the tax deadline to July 15th. https://secure.aarp.org/applicatfons/VMISLocator/ searchTaxAideLocatfons.actfon www.aarp.org/taxaide Or call AARP Foundation 888-227-7669 Staying connected with Zoom during Shelter in Place Since the shelter in place order in San Mateo County, many San Mateo residents have been using an app called Zoom to stay connected to friends and family. What is Zoom and why should we use it? Zoom is an app that allows people from different platiorms to have face-to-face communicatfons. This means that you can connect using a cellphone, tablet, laptop or desk- top. You are not restricted by the type of computer you use, or the operatfng system; this has been the problem with older apps such as Skype or Android Face Time. Getting Started! Getting started with Zoom is easy. Simply download the free app onto your device. For smart phones, you can find it on the Apple Store or Google Play depending on your ser- vice. Once you install the app, you will be asked to register. If you already have a Face- book or Google account, you can use that to register for Zoom. Starting and Joining Meetings Once you do that, you will see another screen, click on the “Invite” button. You will be asked how you will contact your invitees; you can select instant messaging or e-mail. Select who you want to invite. They will receive a URL that they need to click on. Now, you need to go back to your “Partfcipants” window to accept your invitee. Now, you can go back to your main Zoom window and have your meetfng! Joining a meeting is much simpler, the host will send you an URL link that they created and you simply click on this link. After you log in, you will be given the optfon of startfng or joining a meetfng. If you want to start a meetfng with your friends or family, simply click on the “New Meetfng” button. Your meetfng will start, but you’ll be the only one there! You will need to invite others by clicking the “Partfcipants” button at the bottom, this will open up a new window. Zoom has many more features to explore! You can schedule meetfngs for future dates, you can share links, photos, and vid- eos. You can even have up to 25 people at once talking to each other face to face. The nice thing about Zoom is that it works with all platiorms and is easy to use if you are just joining a meetfng. Give it a try and use it to stay in touch or reach out to the community. 8 9 Riddles to ponder…. I know many of you like to solve our weekly riddles at Magnolia Center. Here are some riddles for you to enjoy while the Center remains closed. The answers are at the bottom. Q1: If you drop a yellow hat in the Red Sea, what does it become? Q2: Why is the moon like a dollar? Q3: Can you name three things that have eyes but cannot see? Q4: 10 birds are sitting on a branch. A hunter shoots 5 of them, how many are left? Q5: What runs in and out of town all day? A1: It becomes wet. A2: Because it has four quarters. A3: Needles, potatoes, and storms. A4: None, because the rest flew away. A5: A Road. Rebus Puzzles…. A rebus is a visual puzzle that where you have to figure out the meaning by looking at the words. For example: [FACE] would be “Red in the Face”. Can you figure out the rebus puzzles below? The answers are at the bottom. BUR Thumbs Thumbs Thumbs Thumbs Thumbs Thumbs Thumbs TEEF FEET TEEF poFISHnd 1. Back Rub 2. All Thumbs 3.Two left feet 4. Big fish in a small pond 5.Too funny for words 6. One in a Million 7. Small Potatoes 8. The birds and the bees. Funny Funny Words words Words words MilONElion Potatoes potatoes potatoes potatoes potatoes potatoes B Birds B Birds B Birds B Birds B Birds B Birds ANSWERS: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Boggle! T A P O E N E R D S T A I G H C I M N C H D A T E F L O B S P A 1_ANT_____ 5___________ 2__________ 6___________ 3__________ 7___________ 4__________ 8___________ 9__________ 10__________ 1__________ 5___________ 2__________ 6___________ 3__________ 7___________ 4__________ 8___________ 9__________ 10__________ Boggle is a fun word game where you try to see how many words you can find hidden in the grids. Words can go up and down, left and right, and diagonal. For example on chart one, you can make the word “ANT” by selectfng “A”, “N”, and “T”. How many words can you find in each puzzle? Set 1 Set 2 South San Francisco Senior Services P.O. Box 711 South San Francisco, CA 94080 Magnolia Center Senior Services Information Magnolia Center/Adult Day Care/MSB (650) 829-3822 [email protected] Contact Us Magnolia Center pictured above. Websites: https://www.ssf.net/ https://www.ssf.net/seniors https://www.ssf.net/virtualrec South San Francisco All City Virtual Town Hall The City of South San Francisco will be having an All City Virtual Town Hall on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. These town hall meetfngs strive to give our citfzens and SSF community the most current informatfon and it is also a tfme for anyone to ask questfons. Mayor Garbarino, City Manager Futrell, and other City Administrators are on hand to answer questfons that you may have or that come up during the meetfng. Below is the informatfon on how to register and take part in the All City Virtual Town Hall. Please register for All City Virtual Town Hall on May 21, 2020 6:00 PM PDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1854498290790375435 After registering, you will receive a confirmatfon email containing informatfon about joining the webinar. Audio: Partfcipants can use their telephone or computer mic & speakers (VoIP). UNITED STATES Toll Free 1 877 309 2074 Access Code: 500-163-523 Live, age-specific sessions twice per week Sessions led by Junior Giants AmeriCorps Ambassadors Featuring skills & drills videos made especially for Junior Giants 25-35 minute team-style sessions that focus on: SPRING SEASON RUNS MAY 11 – JUNE 6 | AGES 5-18    (Specific session times dependent on league location and player age)    by Giants Manager Gabe Kapler and his coaching staff     o   Physical activity & nutrition o   Baseball skills & drills o   Reading o   Junior Giants Four Bases of Character Development: Leadership, Teamwork Confidence and Integrity o   Bullying Prevention A FREE VIRTUAL SEASON THAT BRINGS THE FUN OF THE FIELD TO YOUR HOME! DURING THE 4-WEEK SEASON, JUNIOR GIANTS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME ALONG WITH IMPORTANT LESSONS IN HEALTH, EDUCATION AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.